How an L.A. charter school has all but eliminated chronic absenteeism among homeless students

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Set us as preferred Scholarship Prep South Bay, a Wilmington charter school, touts a rare benchmark of success.Last year, none of the substantial number of homeless students it educates were chronically absent, school officials said, a goal they hope to maintain as school opens.

The school, which offers transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, enrolled 421 students last year, and 54 experienced homelessness.Addressing their basic needs by offering a host of services to all students and families — nearly 93% of children come from low-income households — is a priority that boosts attendance.

In addition to government funding it receives as a public school, Scholarship Prep also relies on community partners for donations or services such as food, school supplies and hygiene kits.Students are served breakfast and lunch and can receive before- and after-school care as well as school uniforms and hygiene supplies, and families are given a Metro GoPass TAP card to help with transportation.On-site health and wellness services are provided as well as washers and dryers.In the classroom, social and emotional learning is embedded into the day‘s lessons, staff have been trained on helping students exposed to traumatic experiences, and counseling services are available.

1 2 1.Seventh grader Deoine hugs Electives Instructor Monique Ellison in a dolphin costume on the first day of school.

2.A young student’s new backpack on the first day of school.

For families, weekly food provisions and community grocery assistance are provided as needed as well as hotel assistance and a mobile phone preloaded with information on community resources such as food pantries in the area and mental health resources.“We create a school where everyone is welcome, cares about students and families, has incredible wraparound servic...